BGSQD
BGSQD
Ready to cut, paste, and collage your way into creative liberation? Join us for Queer Junk Journaling 101—a hands-on workshop designed for LGBTQ+ adults (ages 18 and up) who want to explore the joyful, low-pressure world of junk journaling. Whether you’re a seasoned scrapbooker or a total newbie, this is your invitation to play with washi tape, stickers, ephemera, and emotion—while crafting pages that celebrate your travels, your truth, and your tenderest thoughts.
Inspired by five years of practice and a passion for queer visibility in a hobby dominated by cishet influencers, this workshop offers a welcoming space to create, connect, and reclaim the page. With junk journaling now making headlines in the NYTIMES and LATIMES, there’s never been a better moment to dive in. Come make something messy, meaningful, and magnificently yours.
JOURNALS AND PAPER CRAFTING SUPPLIES WILL BE PROVIDED BUT YOU ARE WELCOME TO BRING YOUR OWN EPHEMERA AND TOOLS!
Space is limited to the first 16 people who arrive.
The Bureau normally opens at 1 pm, but we will open at 11:30 AM on Saturday, October 25th, for this event.
This event will take place in person at the Bureau of General Services—Queer Division, on the second floor (room 210) of The LGBT Community Center, 208 W. 13th St., NYC, 10011.
The Bureau will solicit donations at the beginning of the event—we especially encourage donations from those who do not plan to purchase any books.
All are welcome to attend, with or without a donation.
We will pass a bag for donations at the start of the event, but we can also take credit card donations at the register or on Venmo @BGSQD
Even better: sign up to make a monthly tax-deductible donation to the Bureau!
About the facilitator:
Michael Williams is a New York–based photo editor and visual storyteller whose career spans editorial portraiture, performing arts publicity, and celebrity event coverage. Born into a farm family in small-town Iowa, he began photographing professionally in high school and earned his BA in Journalism & Mass Communication from the University of Iowa, with a minor in French and study abroad in Lyon. His path has included an MFA stint at Columbia College Chicago, a fellowship in Amsterdam, and roles at Gamma Liaison, Getty Images, and now Everett Collection, where he directs entertainment photo assignments. Outside of work, Williams continues to photograph—especially his vintage Barbie collection, featured in LIFE and PEOPLE—and leads creative workshops in junk journaling and stationery arts for the LGBTQ+ community.